Well, March was quite a year, wasn’t it? When the March Science Editor Newsletter was sent, there was still hope that maybe the CSE Annual Meeting could be held as planned in Portland. Of course, as you’ve likely heard by now, that will not be happening. However, Program Committee Co-Chairs Emilie Gunn and Peter Olson are hard at work taking the amazing lineup of topics and speakers that the Program Committee has developed and reworking them for these unprecedented times. Be on the lookout for more info on those plans in the coming weeks.
The word “unprecedented” is certainly getting a lot of use these days. Just focusing on CSE for a moment, I am not aware of the in-person annual meeting ever being cancelled, at least not this close to the scheduled dates. More broadly, the global Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic and the international response is affecting almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives in ways that most of us have never experienced. There have been localized and historical antecedents, but something this universal happening so quickly in a time when we are so globally connected with information traveling so rapidly seems… unprecedented.
That is why we’re starting a new initiative currently called Science Editor Pandemic Dispatches, starting with an online form and questionnaire. There is a lot going on and we wanted to create a way to capture your experiences and thoughts as you and your organizations adapt to this ever-changing landscape. Many journals, publishers, and other science communication organizations are not only working overtime to publish up-to-date and accurate information, but you are also likely dealing with changes to work schedules, meeting cancellations, closed offices, and more, including editors, authors, reviewers, and colleagues, family, and friends directly affected by the spread of COVID-19.
If you have an article you’d like to submit, please do so, but many of you may also have brief ideas, insights, or anecdotes you’d like to share: the questionnaire was created to give you the opportunity to provide something outside of the usual article submission process. For example, you may be considering profound shifts in your approach to scientific editing and publishing or pondering the future of scientific communication. Or maybe you’d like to share some ways you’re dealing with remote work and trying to stay sane. We’re interested in collecting everything and anything you may want to share: tips and tricks, interesting anecdotes, light-hearted stories, new insights, thoughts on the future and where we’ll be in a year, and more.
Over the next few weeks/months, we’ll review and collect responses for publication in Science Editor as appropriate. The link to the form, which you are welcome to share with colleagues, is as follows: https://forms.gle/TsQNCuNk3N64gq7j7
I hope that all of you are doing what you can to stay healthy and safe.
-Jonathan Schultz
Editor-in-Chief, Science Editor
New Early Online Article
In his newly posted An Editor’s Perspective article, “Out With the Old”, Dr Andrés Martin reflects back on his term of Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and provides his suggestions for being a successful editor. Here’s a tip that seems particularly apropos these days: Never worry alone. By that he means, seek out resources and communities like CSE and take the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Call for Articles
If you are one of those that happens to have more free time these days, I encourage you to consider submitting an article to Science Editor. Or maybe you don’t have extra time, but you want to channel your restless energy into writing that article you’ve been considering for a while, send it to Science Editor! We’re always looking for new submissions and new voices, on any topic related to editing and publishing in the sciences.
Additional info and suggested article types can be found on our Information for Authors page. Submissions, ideas, or suggestions can be submitted by email to Jonathan Schultz, Editor-in-Chief, at scienceeditor@councilscienceeditors.org.
NEW COLUMN: Ethical Editor
I am pleased to announce the return of regular column on publication ethics and policy, “Ethical Editor”. In each column, Kelly Hadsell and the CSE Editorial Policy Committee will provide updates on the committee activities, such as revision to the CSE White Paper, and discuss related policy topics and ethical quandaries. Is there an ethics issue you would like to learn more about? Let the EPC know by contacting me at Kelly.hadsell@kwfco.com.
CSE Membership: A Challenge
Having to cancel an in-person annual meeting is tough on a professional society such as CSE. For one thing, there is chance membership may drop if we lose the percentage of attendees who only become members to get the registration discount. If you’re reading this, you’re likely a CSE member, so I don’t need to convince you; if you’re not, please consider joining now. Either way, maybe there’s someone you know you could encourage to become a CSE member. We may not be able to have an in-person annual meeting this year, but maybe, we can make 2020 a record year for membership!
Feedback and suggestions are always welcome at scienceeditor@councilscienceeditors.org.
We are also always looking for new submissions or article suggestions you may have; for more details, see our Information for Authors.